It’s been a few nights now that I’ve been sleeping very little. Ever since I got to Taiwan. First few nights I thought it was because I’m so excited about the the new country or the struggle against the lousy hostel. Then, that one night at the make-out hotel, I figured it’s because of all the red and erotic pictures around me. Last few nights, I figured it’s because I’m almost freezing to death in the Taipei cold. It’s got to do with nothing of the above. I just don’t sleep. 4-5 hours, maybe, and that’s enough, no matter what the conditions are.
Realization came while I was listening to Chris, my flat mate, contemplate about his situation. After spending years in Thailand as a Buddhist monk, he came to Taiwan for a change and started an English teaching job that he really dislikes. Last few nights he’s been having a hard time sleeping thinking whether he wants to go back there and keep struggling against his return to ‘real’ life. Which one would it be? the quiet life of harmony with no excitement or difficulties or the daily modern struggle with the occasional civilized treat?
Vanina, my new Taipei best friend, is something else. She has a pure heart, I’m sure of it. I don’t think there’s an evil particle in her soul and I’m blown away by how gentle and nice she is. I’ve gotten used to such different standards and have come to expect little of people that seeing this in front of me challenges my whole understanding of how people are. Oh no, it’s not naivity - she’s nothing like the simple folks back in Hoi An. She has seen the world, she’s studied more than I could ever hope to and she has opinions about various issues - which, all in all, make my time with her refreshingly deep. Pretty weird to find someone with so many shared interests half way across the globe.
After a few hours out to Taipei’s 101 endless international food court and a visit to the miraculous Taipei view observatory from the building top, I headed out to meet Vanina and her friend - Jessie. What is it about Asians and the name Jessie? well, I do know that she spells it a little differently with an ‘ie’ at the end, because early at the introduction she pulled out her Taiwanese business card with all the details. I’ve been told this is the formal Taiwanese way, and if I want to make it out here long, I should definitely make one fast. They took me to this Japanese tea hour room where we had dinner on the floor and discussed the oddest subjects one could imagine. Jessie was interesting in meeting someone of Shagal’s background that could shed some light about the Jewish religion and has pulled out a Christian book she’s translating from English to Chinese out of Oxford Press about why Jesus was the one Jewish guy to make it worldwide out of all the crazy Jewish folks that were crucified back then. Pretty advanced stuff for my first conversation with two Taiwanese girls! And if you know me then you know these subjects really get me going. Art, western and eastern history, international politics, movies and theater, fun and hobbies, I was having a great time. Cultural difference made me laugh a few times as they were very polite not to offend me, saying variations of “excuse me” when they leave to go to the ‘women business’ or say something that might somehow-maybe-slightest-chance hurt my feelings. At first I was a bit confused, and was trying to be very careful about returning the gestures, but after I got used to it - it makes sense. It doesn’t feel fake or overdone, it just feels very considerate and intimate. They are both ‘good girls’, I think, even when considering Taiwanese in general, who prefer the quiet lives over the dance-bars and pub scenes, which is something I respect and maybe sometimes relate to - a wonderful change from some of my Thai company. After dinner they offered to take me to a pub, maybe willing to go out of their way to meet my ‘needs’ but we settled for a drink at some Jazz cafe-bar that was completely empty. What an amazing time.
The next day, I joined Vanina in her routine university life. I have this thing, that as long as I’m with someone that I like, I don’t really mind what I’m doing. I could have as much fun in checking out student life in Taipei’s main university as I would looking down at Taipei from cloud level at the world’s top. Especially, when I can gain Vanina’s insights as to what I’m seeing, blend better because I have an ‘excuse’ to be there, and experience more (like to know what I’m ordering!). I extremely appreciate the fact that she is willing to let me in on her life, though I always wonder ‘how come?’. Oh, damn, I don’t care. I like spending time with her, so as long as she endures me…
[Coming up I’m hoping to go to the Taiwanese obsession - KTV. Oh no, it’s a lot more than the Thai or Vietnamese Kareoke. It’s those tall 20+floors super expensive buildings with endless singing party-rooms that you see everywhere you go. It’s a whole social thing here and I’ll be practicing my Chinese, opps… sorry…- Taiwanese, singing 
]
